Calibrachoa plant named &#39;PAS1020344&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘PAS1020344’, characterized by its dark violet-colored flowers having deep violet-colored venation, medium green-colored foliage, moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit, is disclosed.

LATIN NAME OF GENUS AND SPECIES OF PLANT CLAIMED

Calibrachoa×hybrida

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘PAS1020344’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant botanically known as Calibrachoa×hybrida andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘PAS1020344’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn,Ill. during May 2011. The objective of the breeding program was thedevelopment of Calibrachoa cultivars with unique flower coloration andmounded-trailing growth habit.

The new Calibrachoa cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. Thefemale (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Calibrachoahybrida breeding selection coded N1112R, not patented, characterized byits dark violet-blue colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, andmoderately vigorous, spreading habit. The male (pollen) parent of thenew cultivar is the proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding selectioncoded N8551R, not patented, characterized by its medium violet-coloredflowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous,compact-mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered andselected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the abovestated cross-pollination during August 2011 in a controlled environmentin Elburn, Ill.

Both parents have a degree of homozygosity such that the progeny of thecross N1112R times N8551R are phenotypically uniform and essentiallyidentical to ‘PAS1020344’. Accordingly, phenotypically identical‘PAS1020344’ can be produced by sexual reproduction as well as asexualreproduction.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceAugust 2011 in West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivarreproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as hereindescribed, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations ofsuch asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘PAS1020344’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant:

1. Dark violet-colored flowers having deep violet-colored venation;

2. Medium green-colored foliage;

3. Moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female and maleparents primarily in flower color shade and growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Calibrachoa cultivars, the mostsimilar in comparison to the new cultivar is CABARET Deep Blue‘Balcabdebu’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,039. However, in side by sidecomparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of‘Balcabdebu’ in at least the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new cultivar have fewer flowers per plant than plantsof ‘Balcabdebu’;

2. Plants of the new cultivar have larger leaves, as measured by lengthand width, than plants of ‘Balcabdebu’; and

3. Plants of the new cultivar have fewer main branches than plants of‘Balcabdebu’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘PAS1020344’. Theplants were grown in 4.5-inch pots for 5 weeks in a greenhouse in WestChicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch one week before transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘PAS1020344’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of‘PAS1020344’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in June 2014 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Illinois.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouseunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5-inch pots for 5 weeksutilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch one weekbefore transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained atapproximately 66° F. to 70° F. (19° C. to 21° C.) during the day andapproximately 58° F. to 62° F. (14° C. to 17° C.) during the night.Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles weremaintained during the day. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa×hybrida cultivar ‘PAS1020344’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding            selection coded N1112R, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding            selection coded N8551R, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 4 to 6 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            mounded-trailing.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 9.0 cm. Width: Approximately 25.5 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal            branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:            Approximately 3.        -   Branch.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Length: Approximately            15.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Length of central            internode: Approximately 1.6 cm. Texture: Densely glandular            pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of            young and mature stems: 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 14. Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.            Arrangement on flowering stem: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: At acute angle to stem with tip turning            downward. Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly            acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of            mature leaf: Approximately 3.7 cm. Width of mature leaf:            Approximately 1.4 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Moderately glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless,            transparent. Color of upper surface of young and mature            foliage: 137A with midvein of 144D. Color of lower surface            of young and mature foliage: Closest to 138B with midvein of            138C.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Moderately glandular            pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 144D.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘PAS1020344’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            5 to 7 days.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Single, salverform. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 18. Fragrance: None detected.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 11.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:            Approximately 1.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm.            Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color: Petal portion darker than 83A            and tube portion 151C, venation of N77A.        -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 3.5 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.            Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse. Length from tube:            Approximately 1.6 cm. Length of free portion: Approximately            6.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.6 cm. Texture of upper            surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Glandular            pubescent, dense along venation. Gland color: Colorless,            transparent. Color of upper surface when first open: Darker            than N87A with venation of 86A and midveins of N186A. Color            of lower surface when first open: 83C with venation of 83A            and midveins of N77A. Color of upper surface when fully            open: Darker than N87A, fading with age to N87A; venation of            86A and midveins of N186A. Color of lower surface when fully            open: 83C, fading with age to 83D; venation of 83A and            midveins of N77A.        -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Diameter at            distal end: Approximately 6.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.            Texture of outer surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland            color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner surface: N79A            at tube opening transitioning to 13C with venation of N79A.            Color of outer surface: 151D with venation of N77A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused along lower half.            Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately            1.5 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of upper and            lower surfaces: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface: 137A. Color            of lower surface: 137B with base of 144B.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to            stem. Length: Approximately 1.8 cm. Diameter: Approximately            1.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color: 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5,            basifixed. Stamen length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Filament            length of fixed portion: Approximately 4.0 mm. Filament            color: 154C with spots of N77A on unfixed portion. Anther            shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm.            Anther color: 8A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 8C.            Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length:            Approximately 1.0 cm. Stigma shape: Funnel. Stigma length:            Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 144A. Style length:            Approximately 8.0 mm. Style color: N144D. Ovary length:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary color: N144C with speckles of            187A near the style.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Calibrachoa has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plantnamed ‘PAS1020344’, substantially as herein shown and described.